On Thursday, June 2, Sacramento saw the start of another year of the Hot Lunch Concert Series and a new free music event playing at Cesar Chavez Plaza; “Fiesta en la Calle” (Street Party). The Hot Lunch Concert Series is a collaboration between Hot Italian, Sacramento News and Review and Friends of Fremont Park. Musical guests perform on Thursdays from June 2 to September 1 during the lunch hour (11:30 to 1p.m). Promoter Jerry Perry has put together a great lineup. Fremont Park, located on the corner of 16th and P Streets hosts the event. Musical Charis was the first band scheduled to perform this year. The weather cooperated and made for a delightful lunch concert. People from around t

Brazilian Baile Funk Queen Zuzuka Poderosa came to town straight out of Brooklyn. Zuzuka started a 4 day west coast tour at Sol Collective in Sacramento. Natalia Linares set up an interview with Zuzuka before her performance. The Sacramento Press: Your music is very catchy and is mostly in Portuguese. You do mix in a line or two in English; do you plan to do any recordings in English? Zuzuka: I’m starting to sing in English because I’m trying to get past the fear of, you know, being self conscious about it. There have been a few songs where I’ve thrown in an English hook which I’m going to do tonight. I try to do the same thing in other languages like with Spanish. I’m looking forward t

Fashion was the name of the game for this month's Third Saturday event held at the Westfield Galleria at the Downtown Plaza in Sacramento. Sacramento News and Review presented the event with Tais serving as emcee. Tais was there without his shadow Adam Saake but was there with his much lovelier fiancé. Instagon was the only musical guess during the time I was at the event. Fans of their music were able to enjoy an extra long set of their performance. A couple of the same vendors from previous months came back this month to sell their merchandise. Many new vendors occupied spots in the courtyard in front of Macy's. Corey de Roo owner of the French Cuff Consignment was on hand to introdu

The music scene was alive and kicking in Sacramento this past weekend. Saturday’s Sammies Block Party presented by the Sacramento News and Review was held at the R Street Corridor. Adam Saake and Tais were masters of ceremony and did an excellent job for this venue that has been hosted by the Crest Theatre the last few years. On Sunday another awards event was held at the Tropicana across from the Arden Fair Mall. Various awards were given in different categories. Several bands took the stage with Dance Gavin Dance closing out the show. A packed house rocked for several hours on Sunday night as favorite Sacramento area bands played to the delight of the packed house at the Tropicana dur

Rainy weather threatened many events this weekend in Sacramento but that was not an issue for a lower than usual turn-out during Third Saturday at the Westfield Downtown Plaza. I showed up before 2 and unfortunately missed Justin Farren’s performance. It seems I also missed a couple of designers’ fashion shows. Tais and Adam Saake, as usual, were quite entertaining. On this slow day they were able to keep things going and talked about upcoming events in and around Sacramento. They talked about Folsom Live which is scheduled in the Historic Folsom District on September 25. Folsom Live has grown in popularity the past few years. Thousands of people come from all around Sacramento for this a

(Tais and Adam Saake hosts of S&R Third Saturday) This month’s Third Saturday event, as usual, was very entertaining. Adam Saake and Tais once again were the hosts for the event. I said it before, and I’m saying it again, these guys should start a comedy act. Maybe next month, after September’s Third Saturday is over they can walk over to Front Street and take their act to Laughs Unlimited. This Saturday they introduced two musical acts, three fashion designers, a dance group and reminded shoppers about visiting the many vendors who had set up shop on the lower level of the Westfield Galleria downtown across from Macys. Zak Norlyn was the first musical act of the day. Although I only ca

For a number of Sacramento's magazines, the phrase "labor of love" takes on a double meaning. Three of the best-known local magazine publications are run by talented couples. Sactown Magazine is run by husband-and-wife team Rob Turner and Elyssa Lee, and Midtown Monthly is run by married couple Tim Foster and Liv Moe. Sacramento's newest couple-run magazine, Submerge, is run by Jonathan Carabba, 24 and Melissa Welliver, 29, who are unmarried. This Saturday, their biweekly will be celebrating its two-year, 50th issue anniversary with a party at Marilyn's on K. It will feature live music from hip-hop artist TAIS, dub artist CHLLNGR (formerly Dub Defender) and DJ Mike Diamond. "I think (wo

Looking to dance to the beat of a different drummer? Sacramento's DJ Rock Bottom strives to enable you to do just that. The first and third Friday of every month, Rock Bottom spins a dance party called "Hot Pants" at Level Up Lounge. Whether it's Prince, Black Star or remixes of old-school Motown, Rock Bottom said his goal is to "challenge people to push the envelope, get outside of their box and let go musically." Rock Bottom, born John Word, grew up in Gary, Ind., about 25 miles from downtown Chicago. He recalls as a child listening religiously to Common Sense (now Common), perhaps Chicago's most innovative emcee. He also emulated a cousin's musical taste by listening to Afrika Bambaat

New Single, “Too Complex”, Offers Exclusive Incentives For Downloaders SACRAMENTO, CA – October 6, 2009 – It seems almost too simple: record a song, mix it down, post it online as a free download, and fans now have a free song from an artist to enjoy anytime. But when every artist from here to El Segundo is following the same model, things tend to get old fast. In hopes of bypassing other artists following this same broken model, TAIS says he’s decided to release his newest single, “Too Complex” with a little more complexity this time around. “So many people are doing free downloads nowadays, and I feel like it takes away from what free music is supposed to be,” TAIS says. “It used to be

Some scenes from Third Saturday   The Kasbah Trio The Storytellers Folk and Fusion TAIS Members of Sacramento World Music and Dance  Fashion Show Justin Farren The Pre-lit Crest Photos | Kati Garner

Friday Night Concerts in the Park have filled Cesar Chavez Park on 10th and J Streets with jammin' bands since the beginning of May and will continue every Friday night from 5-9 p.m. until August 14. In this storyline, The Sacramento Press will preview the concerts and help provide additional information on the artists and their music. Friday, June 5 Bucho will headline the concert, with Righteous Movement and Happy Mayfield opening (click each band's name for a link to their MySpace page with music samples). Bucho consists of singer and guitar player Gerald Pease, bass player Josh Lippi, Ben Schweir on the Hammond B3 and Fender Rhodes keyboards and Derek Taylor on percussion, as well a